Systems for improving downhole separation of gases from liquids while producing reservoir fluid

Abstract

A reservoir fluid production system for producing reservoir fluid from a subterranean formation is provided for mitigating gas interference by effecting downhole separation of a gaseous phase from reservoir fluids, while mitigating entrainment of liquid hydrocarbon material within the gaseous phase.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A reservoir fluid production system for producing reservoir fluid from a subterranean formation, comprising:
 a wellbore including an uphole portion and a downhole portion; 
 a wellbore string that is lining the wellbore; 
 wherein:
 the wellbore string includes a wider intermediate section and an uphole-disposed section that is disposed uphole relative to the wider intermediate section; 
 the uphole-disposed section includes a narrower uphole-disposed section; and 
 the wider intermediate section is wider relative to the narrower uphole-disposed section; 
 
 and 
 a reservoir fluid production assembly disposed within wellbore string such that an intermediate wellbore passage is defined within a space between the wellbore string and the assembly and is extending longitudinally through the wellbore, wherein the assembly includes
 the wellbore string and the reservoir fluid production assembly are co-operatively configured such that, while the wellbore string is receiving reservoir fluid from the subterranean formation, the reservoir fluid is conducted uphole to a reservoir fluid separation space, with effect that a gas-depleted reservoir fluid is separated from the reservoir fluid within the reservoir fluid separation space and conducted through the reservoir fluid production assembly to the surface; and 
 at least a portion of the reservoir fluid separation space defines a separation-facilitating passage portion of the intermediate wellbore passage, and the separation-facilitating passage portion is disposed within the wider intermediate section. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The system as claimed in  claim 1 ;
 wherein the assembly further includes a pump, and the pump is disposed within the wider intermediate section. 
 
     
     
       3. The system as claimed in  claim 2 ;
 wherein:
 the assembly further includes a flow diverter that includes a string counterpart and an assembly counterpart, and defines: (i) a reservoir fluid-conducting passage for conducting reservoir fluid to the reservoir fluid separation space of the wellbore, with effect that a gas-depleted reservoir fluid is separated from the reservoir fluid within the reservoir fluid separation space in response to at least buoyancy forces; and (ii) a gas-depleted reservoir fluid-conducting passage for receiving the separated gas-depleted reservoir fluid while the separated gas-depleted reservoir fluid is flowing in a downhole direction, and diverting the flow of the received gas-depleted reservoir fluid such that the received gas-depleted reservoir fluid is conducted by the flow diverter in the uphole direction for discharge via a discharge communicator; 
 the wellbore string defines the string counterpart; 
 the reservoir fluid production assembly defines the assembly counterpart; and 
 the discharge communicator of the flow diverter is fluidly coupled to the pump such that the flow diverter is disposed for supplying the pump with the gas-depleted reservoir fluid. 
 
 
     
     
       4. The system as claimed in  claim 1 ;
 wherein:
 the assembly further includes a flow diverter that includes a string counterpart and an assembly counterpart, and defines: (i) a reservoir fluid-conducting passage for conducting reservoir fluid to the reservoir fluid separation space of the wellbore, with effect that a gas-depleted reservoir fluid is separated from the reservoir fluid within the reservoir fluid separation space in response to at least buoyancy forces; and (ii) a gas-depleted reservoir fluid-conducting passage for receiving the separated gas-depleted reservoir fluid while the separated gas-depleted reservoir fluid is flowing in a downhole direction, and diverting the flow of the received gas-depleted reservoir fluid such that the received gas-depleted reservoir fluid is conducted by the flow diverter in the uphole direction; 
 the wellbore string defines the string counterpart; and 
 the reservoir fluid production assembly defines the assembly counterpart. 
 
 
     
     
       5. A reservoir fluid production system for producing reservoir fluid from a subterranean formation, comprising:
 a wellbore including an uphole portion and a downhole portion; 
 a wellbore string that is lining the wellbore; 
 wherein:
 the wellbore string includes a wider intermediate section and an uphole-disposed section that is disposed uphole relative to the wider intermediate section; 
 the uphole-disposed section includes a narrower uphole-disposed section; and 
 the wider intermediate section is wider relative to the narrower uphole-disposed section; 
 
 a reservoir fluid production assembly disposed within wellbore string such that an intermediate wellbore passage is defined within a space between the wellbore string and the assembly and is extending longitudinally through the wellbore, wherein the assembly includes a flow diverter body including a reservoir fluid receiver, a reservoir fluid discharge communicator, and a gas-depleted reservoir fluid receiver; 
 and 
 a sealed interface; 
 
       wherein:
 the sealed interface prevents, or substantially prevents, flow communication, via the intermediate wellbore passage, between a downhole wellbore space and an uphole wellbore space; 
 the wellbore string, the assembly, and the sealed interface are co-operatively configured such that, while the flow diverter body is receiving reservoir fluid, via the reservoir fluid receiver, from the subterranean formation via the downhole wellbore space, and discharging the received reservoir fluid, via the reservoir fluid discharge communicator, into the uphole wellbore space, within a reservoir fluid separation space of the uphole wellbore space, a gas-depleted reservoir fluid is separated from the discharged reservoir fluid, in response to at least buoyancy forces, and is conducted to the gas-depleted reservoir fluid receiver; 
 and 
 at least a portion of the reservoir fluid separation space defines a separation-facilitating passage portion of the intermediate wellbore passage, and the separation-facilitating passage portion is disposed within the wider intermediate section. 
 
     
     
       6. The system as claimed in  claim 5 ;
 wherein:
 the assembly further includes:
 a pump; and 
 an uphole fluid conductor; 
 
 wherein:
 the pump is fluidly coupled to the flow diverter body for receiving and pressurizing the gas-depleted reservoir fluid; and 
 the uphole fluid conductor is for conducting the pressurized gas-depleted reservoir fluid to the surface; 
 
 
 and
 the flow diverter body includes:
 a reservoir fluid conductor that is effecting flow communication between the reservoir fluid receiver and the reservoir fluid discharge communicator, 
 a gas-depleted reservoir fluid conductor; and 
 a gas-depleted reservoir fluid discharge communicator; 
 wherein:
 the gas-depleted reservoir fluid conductor is effecting flow communication between the gas-depleted reservoir fluid receiver and the gas-depleted reservoir fluid discharge communicator; and 
 the gas-depleted reservoir fluid discharge communicator is for supplying the pump with the received gas-depleted reservoir fluid. 
 
 
 
 
     
     
       7. The system as claimed in  claim 6 ;
 wherein the pump is disposed within the wider intermediate section. 
 
     
     
       8. The system as claimed in  claim 5 ;
 wherein the separation-facilitating passage portion is disposed between the flow diverter body and the wider intermediate section. 
 
     
     
       9. The system as claimed in  claim 5 ;
 wherein the separation-facilitating passage portion is disposed within an annulus that is defined between the flow diverter body and the wider intermediate section. 
 
     
     
       10. The system as claimed in  claim 5 ;
 wherein:
 the separation-facilitating passage portion includes: (i) an uphole-disposed space, and (ii) a flow diverter body-defined intermediate space; 
 the uphole-disposed space is disposed uphole relative to the reservoir fluid discharge communicator; and 
 the flow diverter body-defined intermediate space is disposed within an annulus that is defined between the flow diverter body and the wider intermediate section. 
 
 
     
     
       11. The system as claimed in  claim 10 ;
 wherein the flow diverter body-defined intermediate space merges with the uphole-disposed space. 
 
     
     
       12. The system as claimed in  claim 5 ;
 wherein the separation-facilitating passage portion spans a continuous space extending from the assembly to the wider intermediate section. 
 
     
     
       13. The system as claimed in  claim 12 ;
 wherein the continuous space extends outwardly relative to the central longitudinal axis of the assembly. 
 
     
     
       14. The system as claimed in  claim 13 ;
 wherein the continuous space extends outwardly relative to the central longitudinal axis of the wellbore. 
 
     
     
       15. The system as claimed in  claim 5 ;
 wherein:
 the narrower uphole-disposed section merges with the wider intermediate section via an uphole transition section of the wellbore string; and 
 the uphole transition section extends from the narrower uphole-disposed section along, or substantially along, an upper transition wellbore string section axis that is disposed at an acute angle of less than 45 degrees plus or minus 10% relative to a reference axis that is parallel, or substantially parallel, to the central longitudinal axis of the wellbore. 
 
 
     
     
       16. The system as claimed in  claim 5 ;
 wherein:
 the ratio of: (a) the minimum width of the wider intermediate section to (b) the maximum width of the narrower uphole-disposed section is at least 1.1 plus or minus 10%. 
 
 
     
     
       17. The system as claimed in  claim 5 ;
 wherein:
 the wellbore string defines an internal passage; and 
 a cross-sectional area of the internal passage of the wider intermediate section is greater than a cross-sectional area of the internal passage of the narrower uphole-disposed section. 
 
 
     
     
       18. The system as claimed in  claim 5 ;
 wherein:
 the ratio of: (a) a cross-sectional area of the internal passage of the wider intermediate section to (b) a cross-sectional area of the internal passage of the narrower uphole-disposed section is at least 1.15 plus or minus 10%. 
 
 
     
     
       19. The system as claimed in  claim 5 ;
 wherein:
 the separation-facilitating passage portion includes a minimum cross-sectional area, and the ratio of: (a) the minimum cross-sectional area of the separation-facilitating passage portion, to (b) the maximum cross-sectional area of a narrower uphole-disposed section-defined passage portion of the intermediate wellbore passage, the narrower uphole-disposed section-defined passage portion being defined between the narrower uphole-disposed section and the assembly and disposed in flow communication with the separation-facilitating passage portion, is at least 0.9 plus or minus 10%. 
 
 
     
     
       20. The system as claimed in  claim 5 ;
 wherein:
 the ratio of: (a) the length of the narrower uphole-disposed section, measured along its longitudinal axis to (b) the length of the wider intermediate section, measured along its longitudinal axis is at least two (2) plus or minus 10%.